Strip stamp applicator



B. F. RANDRUP ETAL 3,133,389

STRIP STAMP APPLICATOR May 19, 1964 Filed Nov. 2, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet l 3| INVENTORS BEN F. RANDRUP BY HAROLD B. RICE ATTORNEYS May 1 1964 B. F. RANDRUP ETAL 3,133,389

I STRIP STAMP APPLICATOR Filed Nov. 2, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS 38 BEN E RANDRUP BY HAROLD B. RICE ATTORNEYS y 9, 1964 B. F. RANDRUP ETAL 3,133,389

STRIP STAMP APPLICATOR Filed Nov. 2, 1961 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Q s2 s2 1 Q 70 7| INVENTORS BEN F. RANDRUP HAROLD B. RICE BY ATTORNEYS y 19, 1964 B. F. RANDRUP ETAL 3,133,389

STRIP STAMP APPLICATOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 2, 1961 INVENTORS BEN F. RANDRUP BY HAROLD B. RICE 8 4, mu .wmz

ATTORNEYS i iti g r 3,133,389 STRIP STAMP APPLICATOR Bel-E Randrup, Pleasant Hill, and Harold B. Rice,

Walnut Creek, Calif, assignors to John Burton Machine Corporation, Concord, Calif.

. Filed Nov. 2, 1961, Ser. No. 149,756

16 Claims. (Cl. 53137) This invention relates to a device for applying an elongated strip'of flexible material over the top of an article having a generally cylindrical upper end. More particularly, the invention provides an apparatus for applying the elongated government tax-stamp to bottles containing ":bottle, or does not extend equal distances down the opposite sides; These inaccuracies result pearance ofthe finished bottle.

The'main'object of the present invention is therefore to generally improve the application of tax stamps to bottles in a sloppy apso that the application step may be performed faster and with greater accuracy than has heretofore been possible. 1 Another object of the invention is to provide a strip stamp applicator that lends itself to use with strip stamps coated with heat-sensitive plastic adhesive.

fOth'er objects and advantages will be apparent from the following specification and drawings.

- FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a machine employing; the

invention;

FIG. 2'is a semi-schematic front elevation of a portion of the machine of FIG. 1 showing a modified form thereof; FIG. 3 is an end elevation of the machine of FIG. 1;

3 FIG. 4 is a longitudinal sectionof a portion of the machineof FIG. 1 showing the pressure applying fingers in a retracted position; a

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 but showing the applyingsealing pressure to the strip stamp on a bottle;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged cross section of a portion of the machine of FIG. 1 showing the same in strip sealing position;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged vertical section through a bottle showingthef'head and a finger in sealing position;

v v FIGQ 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing a modified form ofsealing finger; t FIG. 9 is a greatly enlarged cross section through the cloth employed to form the pressure pad;

FIG. 10 is a bottom plan View of the strip stamp suc- ,tionhead; a

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary View showing the suction head and the, discharge end of the hopper in stamp transfer po- 5 FIG. .12 isa cross section through one of the pressure applying fingers; and V p 13 is a side view of the discharge end of the hopp r-z I In detail, and first with reference to FIG. 1, the invention comprises a base structure generally designated 1 in which the driving apparatus may be housed. Mounted on base structure 1 is a conveyor support 2 (FIG. 1) on i which a bottle conveyor 3 (FIG. 3) is supported. Positioned alongside conveyor 3 is a feed screw 4 which is United States Patent 0 3,133,389 Patented May 19, 1364 driven by shaft 5 (FIG. 1) so that the speed of said screw is synchronized with the speed of the conveyor 3.

Details of the above noted apparatus are not described herein but aresomewhat similar to those shown in US. Patent No. 2,860,468 wherein the same drive apparatus for the botle conveyor is employed. With respect to feed screw 4, reference is made to U.S. application Serial No. 9,734, filed February 19,1960.

By the above-identified apparatus, bottles are conveyed at a uniform speed and spacing to a position under a drive head 14) (FIG. 3) which includes a speed compensating head 11 (FIG. 6) designed to move, for at least a portion of its cycle, at a linear speed equal to the speed of the conveyor. In PatentNo. 2,860,468, said drive head 10 and compensating head 11 are described in detail asused to drive a device for applying cellulose bands to bottle necks. Identically the same structure is employed in the present invention to drive a housing 15 (FIGS. 1, 3, -6) which supports the strip stamp applicator.

As best seen in FIG. 6 the housing 15 is attached to a a pair of crank'arms 16 which in turn are rotated by compensating head 11 so that the housing 15 undergoes a generally orbital movement, moving toward and awayfrorn conveyor 3 and forward and rearwardly relative to said conveyor. For the purpose of the instant disclosure, it is sufiicient to note that the housing 15, when in its lower position, moves forwardly with, and at the same speed of, conveyor 3 so that for all practical purposes there is no relative movement between the housing and the conveyor except for the vertical movement of the housing relative to the conveyor.

The housing 15 includes a pair of front and rear plates 20, 21 respectively secured together in parallel spaced relation by a plurality of spacer plates 22 which may be secured to plates 20, 21 by machine screws. A box-like structure is thus ,formed permitting a'pluralityi of .strip stamp applicators to be carried by housing 15 in much the same manner as a plurality of banding devices are carried by the corresponding housing-shown in Patent No. 2,860,468.

In FIGS."1 2 three applicators are indicated in housing 15, but it will be apparent that more 'or less may be employed if desired. Since'all are similar, only one will be described in detail. I

Referring now to FIG. 5,-each applicator is housed between a pair of spacer plates 22 and between front and rear plates 20, 21 of housing 15. Extending vertically within housing, 15 is a rod 24 which is provided at its lower end with a strip stamp suction head 25 adapted to transfer the stamps from the hopper generally designated 26 (FIG. 6) to the top of the cap 30 of bottle 31.

, The rod 24 is hollow and acts as a conduit for air and is connected at its upper end to a flexible tube'32 which in turn is connected to any suitable source of vacuum such as a vacuum pump indicated schematically at 33 in FIG. 5. Themeans by which the stamps are transferred from hopper'26 to head 25 will subsequently be described but at this point it may be pointed out that the head-25 is provided with a rectangular recess 35 (FIG. 6) adapted to receive the central portion of stamp 36 therein. Head 25 is'provided with a central axial passageway 37 (FIG. v 10) communicating with hollow rod 24. Said passageway terminates at the rectangular recess 35 and a rectangular grid is formed in the bottom of said recess by relatively shallow grooves 38 communicating with the end of passageway 37. By this structure the vacuum effect is spread evenly over a relatively large portion of the stamp so that the latter is held firmly against shifting during transfer from hopper 26 to the bottle 31.

Extending alongside front plate 20 of housing 15 is a horizontally extending fixed shaft 400m which are swing- 51 of cam 50 at all times.

n as

. secured at its opposite ends to brackets 41 (FIG. 3) which in turn are secured to the stationary head 1'6 of the machine. Each hopper 26 comprises a pair of end plates 43 (FIG. 6) and a pair of side plates 4-4, 45. End plates 43 are spaced apart a distance about equal to the length of the elongated tax stamp to be applied, while side plates 44, 45 are spaced apart a distance slightly greater than the width of the tax stamps. The stamp receiving chamber 46 terminates in a discharge end 4-7 through which the stamps are removed and the stamps may be inserted in stacks from the. opposite end 48. To facilitate insertion of the'st'amps, the side plate 44 may be cut away as shown in FIG. 1 to permit insertion therethrough of the fingers of the operator.

In the position of the hopper of FIG. 6 it will be seen that the side plates 44, 45 are curved adjacent the discharge end to a radius of curvature having its center on the axis of support shaft 46. The arcua te chamber thus formed permits the-stamps to be inserted in the hopper vertically and atthe same time permits the rectangular discharge end to swing into a generally horizontal plane (FIG. 3) to transfer the end stamp therefrom to the suction head 25.

Fixedly secured to the housing 15 is a cam plate 56 (FIG. 6) having a camming edge 51 which cooperates with a roller 52 mounted on hopper26. Extending from the upper end of housing 15 to a pin 53 fixedly secured to hopper 26 is an extension spring 54 which urges the hopper 26 in a counterclockwise direction (FIG. 6) so that follower roller 52 isheld in engagement with camrning edge Since hopper shaft 46 is stationary, it will be apparent that upward movement of housing 15from the position of FIG. 6 will result in the hopper 26 oscillating in a counterclockwise direction as roller 52 follows the lower arcuate portion of camming edge 51. Such movement-of hopper 26 brings the open end 47 of the stamp chamber into registration with the rectangular recess of suction head 25 (FIG. 11) and permits the end stamp of the stack to be pulled out of the hopper by the suction on head 25.

When hopper 26 has swungfrom the position of FIG. 6

extending slots 85, 86 (FIG. 6) respectively formed in strips 88, 39 secured to front and rear plates 20, 21 of housing 15. The'upper portions of slots 85, 86 may be formed with a shoulder 87 or otherwise blocked to limit downward movement of upper pivot pins 61 and therefore downward movement of linkage 60. Bottom stops 84 may be provided'to engage pins 62.

Carried by housing 15 are a pair of cams 99, 91 (FIGS. 4, 5) which are adapted to engage rollers 92 93 carried by pivot pins 68, 69 so that upon downward movement of the housing 15 relative to linkage 6% the linkage is extended to the position of FIG. 5.

Adjacent the upper end of rod 24 is a fitting 23 fixedly secured to said rod as by pin 95. Fitting 23 is provided with a pair of downwardly extending legs 96, 97 which receive the sleeve .81 therebetween. Integral with sleeve 81 is a rectangular plate 98 which'is adapted to slide on rod 24 with sleeve 81 and which is restrained from motion downwardly along rod -32 by a collar 99 fixedly secured to said rod. Interposed between fitting 23 and sleeve 81 is a relatively strong initially compressed spring 100 which normally urges sleeve 81 and plate 98 into engageto urge the linkage 66 to its extended position of FIG. 5 7

thereby causing the stampengaging fingersto move from the upper position of FIG. 4 to the gripping position of FIG. 5. Inorder to obtain sufiicient pressure between the suction head 25 and the top of bottle 31, and at I the same time'prevent excessive pressure, yieldability is to the position of FIG; 3 with the discharge end 47 of the stamp chamber horizontalpthejsuction head 25 has been elevated by housiug15 to a position at which the discharge end of the hopper can swing into registration with the underside of the suction head 25. .The means by which now be described. I

Reciprocably mounted on vertically extending hollow rod 24 is a lazy tongs'linkage generally designated 66 (FIGS. 4, 5) which, includes upper and lower central pivot pins 61, 62 respectively and an intermediate central said suction head 25 is mounted for such movement will 1 provided in the form of the spring 166 which permits slight upward movement of pivot pins" 61 after the predetermined force necessary to overcome the initial com pression ofspring 161} .has been exerted. Such yield-' ability insures against damage to the apparatus and also to the bottle 31. It will be noted that fingers 74, are

spaced outwardly from bottle 31 when suction head 25 engages bottle top 39 so that said fingers approach the bottlefil in a horizontal direction. Iftheir' movement were downwardly tearing of the strip stamp would result. I

" A similar type of yieldability is provided in earns 90, 91 so as to insure aminimum gripping force between fingers 74, 75. To this end the cam is connected by a pair of parallel links 108, 169 to a mounting plate 110 and cam 91 is'similarly connected by links 112, 113 to a mounting plate 114. Said mounting plates may be fixedly secured to adjacent spacer plates 22 of the housing 15 in any desired manner. Interposed between the mounting t initially compressed helical springs 116, 117 which 'tend' pin 62. Pivotally supported on the free ends of lower links 70, 71 are strip engaging fingers or pressure pads 74,

75 which will be described in detail later on. Links 64,

65, 66, 67, 70, 71 are duplicated on the opposite side predetermined force corresponding to the initial compresof rod 24 (FIG. 6); only one of each pair of links being referred to in the above description.

Central pivots 61, 62, 63 are respectively secured to.

to extend cams 90, '91 to apositio'nwith links 108, 109, 112, 114 horizontal. However, said links are held in a slightly inclined position by set screws 118, 119 so that upon application of 'a force on cams 90, 91 in excess of the sive force of springs 116, 117 the cams are urged oppositely outwardly againstthe resiliency of the springs 116, 117.

Upon movement of the mechanism from the position of FIG. 4 to the position of FIG. 5 the lower central slide 82 slides downwardly along rod 24 until it engages the suction'head 25. The upper end of the linkage, that is, sleeve 31 tends to move upwardly but is resisted by the spring and no further movement is permitted until the force of spring 100 is overcome. To dampen the noise and shock of the linkage reaching its. extended position of FIG; 5 a yieldable washer 121, preferably of V adherence of the stamp to the bottle sides.

, 90, 91 apply said pressure they move oppositely outward elevated temperature. 'plastic'adhesive is preferable to water soluble adhesives radiated therefrom. v v v As best seen in FIG. 12 the core 130 is formed to proleather, is applied to the top of suction head 25 so as to absorb the shock of sleeve 82 striking the same.

It will be noted that the action of fingers 74, 75 during their downward movement is to first bend the opposite ends of strip stamp 36 downwardly along the sides of bottle 31 and then to apply pressure to said ends to insure As the cams against the yieldable resistance of springs 116, 117 if the forceson the cams, and therefore the gripping fingers,

exceed said predetermined amount. "It will be noted that the springs 116, 117 in addition'to acting as a safety device, also equalize the pressure on thegripping fingers.

An important feature of the above described structure resides in the fact that the lazy tongs linkage is fioatingly 6 central portion toprovide an arcuate section complementary in shape to the arcuate face 135 of core 130.

The marginal portions of the cloth extend alongside the A core 130 and are secured thereto by means of screws 137. The length of the fingers 74, 75 is predetermined and the metal cloth pad 136 is positioned thereon so that the pad is in engagement along the length of the strip mounted and is not fixedly secured to the housing 15 at V any p'oint. Not only does such a mounting provide, a

desirable yieldability but it also permits the linkage to be removed quickly and easily. Accuracy in registering the suction he'adwith the bottle and with the hopper 26 is insured by pins 61, 62, 63 and the associated tracks or 'grooves 85, S6. Cams 90, 91 may readily be adjusted to the exact position required to obtain the correct pressure on fingers 74, 75.

Since the linkage mechanism and the rod 24 are floatingly mounted the position and oscillation of hopper 26 may be predetermined so that the' stack of stamps exerts ,a slight upwardly directed force on the underside of suction head at each transfer cycle.

This causes the stack to be pushed inwardly into the magazine and insures that the outer stamp is free for release from the remainder of the stack. It will be noted that extension springs 104, 105 perform the dual functions of urging the fingers 74, 75 up wardly to bring the linkage to the up position of FIG.

4 and at the same'time act as conduits for receiving therein electrical leads 124, 125 which are connected to heating elements 126 of fingers 74, 75 (FIG. 7). The

springs'104,"105 mayterminate a short distance above plate 98 through which they are threaded and leads 124,

125 may then be connected-through aslack loop to the itself-to use with tax stamps and like strips that are coated on one side with a plastic which melts at an The use; of such a heat sensitive since there is no possibility of adjacent strips of a stack 4 adhering together before they are to be used. By the present invention sufiicient heat may be applied to the stamp'36 in ashort enough interval of time to insure perfect adhesion between the stamp and the bottle.

stamp portion that is tobenadhered to the bottle.

To provide a desirable yieldability in pad 136 and at the same time insure optimum heat transfer from the pad to the stamp, the cloth from which the pad 136 is'formed is provided with a plurality of folds 140 as best seen in FIG. 9. It will be noted that the cloth of pad 136'is foldedon itself along lines extending transversely of the associated finger so that the spacing between the folds is greater than the width' of the overlapped portions. 1

Each section of the pad 136defined by adjacent folded portions is thus backed up by yieldable bent portions of the cloth which in effectconstitute springs;v In other words, the resiilency of the metal cloth from which the pad is formed creates a plurality of spring urgedstamp' engaging sections which insure positive though yieldable' heat transfer elements in engagement with the stamp.

Not only does the pad 136 provide an efiicient means for. transferring heat to the heat sensitivefplastic of the stamp but the pad itself is practically indestructable and can undergo millions of cycles without impairment of its strength or its heat transfer characteristics. The deflec tion of the metal threads which form the cloth of the pad is never great enough to cause permanent deformation and can therefore be flexed an indefinite number of times without loosing its resiliency.

The above-described structure incroporates accuracy promoting features to insure that each stamp is secured to its associated bottle in exactly the same position. Additional accuracy. promoting features 'will now be described.

Since rod 24 is not fixedly secured to the surrounding structure, it is important that suction head 25, secured to the lower end of said rod, be in exactly the same angular position relative to the discharge end of the hopper.26 each time the stamp is transferred from the latter to said suction head. This is accomplished by drilling hole 142 in fitting 23 (FIG. 5) and hole 143 in sleeve 81 and inserting the oppositevends of spring 100 in said holes. Byimpressing an initial torsion on spring100 before insertion of the ends of the same in holes 142, 143, the head 25 and the associated linkage structure will always be urged in the same direction to take up the clearances in the various parts of the linkage, In this manner the head 25 is always in the same angular position relative to its longitudinal axis when a stamp-is received thereon from hopper 26. This insures that the stamp is placed on the bottle with its central longitu- As bestseenin FIG. 7, wherein finger 75 is .shownjn detail each finger includes a central steel core 130-p rovide d' with abore'131 for receiving the heating element 126 therein; said element being connected by leads'124 01:125. to a suitable source of current (not shown) A v pin 132fwhich is connected to the lower end of the linkage swingably supports thefinger so that it'is free to accommodate its position to the side of the bottle'which it engages. A heat shield such as indicated at 133 may be secured to the core to reduce the amount of heat vide an arcuate face 135 on which is received the bottle engaging pad generally designated 136. This pad is of a unique construction inthat it 'is made of very fine metal gauze or cloth. The pad is formed from a generally rectangular sheet of such metal cloth and is bent atits dinally extending axis of the bottle. I v In order to insure thateach stamp discharged from hopper 26 is in exactly the same position relative to the hopper, means is provided forinsuringthat each stamp when discharged is in engagement with the plate 44 which forms the outer side of thehoppe'r. Such means comprises a tamping plate (FIGS. 6, 13) which extends coinciding with the vertical plane substantially between end plates 43 and, in effect, con

stitutes a movable end of fixed side plate 45 of the hopper. ,Tamping plate 145 is provided with extensions 146 which are received in complementary formed openings.

in end plates 43 so that saidtamping plate 'engages the adjacent edges of the stamps 36 in hopper chamber 46 and, by gravity, urges said stamps against arcuate side plate 44. Since the hopper is constantly undergoing a change in direction, it will be apparent that plate .145 is subjected to changing forces due to acceleration and the result is that said stamps are subject to a tamping action by plate 145. Each stamp is thereby'exactly positioned with reference to side wall .44 and the result is that each discharged stamp is transferred to suction head 25 and held thereon in exactly the same position relative to said head so that it is subsequently applied to the bottle with 7 its longitudinal axis coinciding with the vertical central plane of the bottle.

As best seen in FIGS. 6, 13, a pair of pins 148'extend from endwalls 43 of the hopper into engagement with the discharge end of the stack of stamps and engage the outer stamp at the opposite ends of the latter. These pins prevent discharge of the, stamps when the hopper swings to its outer position in which the stack is urged toward the discharge end of hopper by gravity.

Tamping plate 145 is cut away at its opposite ends as shown in FIG. 13 to avoid interference with pins 148.

It will be noted that the'shape of cam 50 (FIG. 6) is such that the return movement of the hopper to the posi tion of FIG. 6 is with a rapid acceleration so that the inertia of the stack of stamps urges the stack toward the discharge end so that the end stamp is always available at the discharge end of the hopper for transfer to the suction head.

Any tendency of the stamps in hopper 2,6 to stick together is obvia'ted'by the arcuate shape of the discharge end of the stamp chamber Which resultsin relative sliding movement of the stamps as they proceed along the armate path to discharge. Also, as noted above, the stack shifts within the hopper during each cycle.

The high speed with which the above-described structure can apply stamps to bottles is attributable in part to the fact that a plurality of devices may be actuated in the same head. This, of course, permits each applicator to be run at a reasonable speed.

The above-described apparatus may be employed with. conventional glued-stamps in which a liquid soluble ad 8 cient excess length is provided in leads 124 so as to permit the elongation and contraction that occurs.

An additional feature providing accuracy of registration resides in the fact that the drive head 16), described in Patent No. 2,860,468, includes a quick return mechanism so that the stackof stamps in the hopper .is'urged toward the forward side of the hopper during movement of the head 16 in a reverse direction relative to the movement of the conveyor. This insures that the forward'end of each stamp is always in exactly the same position relative to the bottleso that each stamp extends downwardly along the length of the neck a predetermined distance.

hesive is employed. In such a case, the heating elements;

126 in fingers 74, 75 are, of course, omitted and a wetting device such as illustrated in FIG. 2 may be employed to 7 wet the top portions of the bottles so 'thattthe stamps will adhere thereto.

t 'The modified structure of FIG. 2' includesan'extension 151 of housing 15 and which extension is providedwith a'plurality of steaming heads 152 which are adapted to fit over the bottles 31 as the latter pass along the conveyor toward the sealing head so that a light condensate is' ap-' plied to the tops for adhering the stamp.

In some instances, it may be desirable'not to secure the tax stamp to the closure itself, but merely to the sides of the bottle below the closure. the closure is removed the upper portion of the tax stamp falls away from the container and only the terminal portions of'the strip are left secured tothe bottle sides. This improves the appearance of the bottle after it is opened since no unsightly torn stamp remains on the closure.

they do secured to the bottle, evidence the fact that the stamp had been applied to the bottle which is desirable. To secure the stamp to the body of the container only the upper portion of the pad 36 of FIG. 1 that registers with closure 30 may be omitted, or shorterv fingers 155 may be provided as indicatedin FIG. 8. In; the latter case, the pad 156 of finger '155 does not engage'the portion of the stamp in contact with the closure 30. There fore, the closure does not become adhered to'the stamp. It will beunderstood, of course, that the particular ex-. ample shown in which a conventional tax stamp is applied to a liquor bottle is only one embodiment of the invention In such a case, when "However, the end portions of the stamp, remaining as The above'v'ery specific description of the preferredembodiment of the invention is not to be taken as restrictive thereof as it is obvious that various modifications in design will occur to those skilled in the art Without departing from the following claims.

ed for reciprocal vertical movement into and out of engagement therewith, means for moving said magazine into and out of registration with said head for engaging said head with the end strip of said stack to permit transfer of saidend strip to said head, said magazine being supported for swinging about a horizontal axis and pro,

videdwith an open end through which said end strip is removed from said magazine and transferred-to said head.

elongated strip stamp over the top of an article having a 2. In a strip stamp applying device for applying an generally cylindrical upper end, astrip stamp transfer head supported for movement along a generally vertically extending path of travel into and out of engagement with said upper end, a strip. stamp hopper supported for swinging about a horizontal axis alongside said path, said f hopperbeing provided with a chamber for receiving a stack of strip stamps therein and including an open discharge end through which strip stamps' are successively dispensed for transfer to said head, and means for swinging said hopper to bring said end into registration with said head when the latter is out of engagement with said article.

3. In a strip stamp applying device for applying an elongated strip stamp over the topof an article having a generally cylindrical upper end, a strip stamp transfer head supported for movement along a generally vertically extending path of travel into and out of engagement with said upper end, a strip stamp hopper supported for swinging about a horizontal axis alongsisde said path, said hopper being provided with a chamber for receiving a stack of strip stamps therein and'including an open discharge end thruogh which strip stamps are successively dispensed for transfer to said head, and means for swinging said hopper to bring said end into registration with said head when the latter is out of engagement with said article, said chamber being elongated in a direction along the depth of said stack and including an arcuate portion adjacent said discharge end'for bending said stack along its path of travel thereby causing relative sliding movementbetween adjacentstrip stamps as the same progress generally cylindrical upper end, a strip stamp transfer head supported for movement along a generally vertically extending path of travel into and out of engagement with said upper end, a strip stamp hopper supported for swinging about a horizontal axisalongside said path, said hopper being provided with a chamber for'receiving a stack of strip stamps therein and including an open discharge end through which strip stamps are successively dispensed for n'ansfer to said head, means for swinging said hopper to bring said end into registration with said head when the latter is out of engagement with said article, and means for swinging said hopper away from said head to move said end downwardly whereby said stack moves toward ;said open end .by gravity, and-a weight in said hopper cooperating with the stamps adjacent said open end for tamping the same against the side of said chamber that is remote from said axis.

6. In a device for applying a flexible elongated strip over the top of an article having a generallycylindrical vertically disposed upper end, a pair of pressure applying fingers supported for movement into and out of engagement with the opposite ends of said strip respectively for urging said ends against the opposite sides of said cylindrical upper end and for pressing said ends against said sides,said.fingers including strip engaging pads formed of metal cloth, said cloth being formed to provide an arcuate strip engaging portion complementarily formed relative to the cylindrical upper end of said article and bent along vertically extending lines to provide a pair of sides adapted to be secured to opposite sides of said fingers.

7. In a device for applying a flexible elongated strip over the top of an article having a generally cylindrical vertically disposed upper end, a pair of pressure applying fingers supported for movement into and out of engagement with the opposite ends of said strip respectively for urging said ends against the opposite sides of said cylindrical upper end and for pressing said ends against said sides, said fingers including strip engaging pads formed of metal cloth, said cloth being formed to provide an armate strip engaging portion complementarily formed relative to the cylindrical upper end of said article and bent along veritcally extending lines to provide a pair of sides adapted to be secured to opposite sides of said fingers, said cloth being foldedon itself to provide a plurality of horizontally extending, vertically spaced folds providing resilient strip engaging elements adapted to flex as said fingers engage said opposite sides.

'8. In a device for applying a flexible elongated stripover the top of an article having a generally cylindrical,

vertically disposed upper end and provided with a pair of fingers adapted to be moved into and out of engagement withthe opposite endsrespectively of said strip and for -9. In-a' device for applying a flexible elongated strip over the top of an article having a generally cylindrical vertically disposed upper end and provided with a pair of fingers adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the opposite ends respectively of said strip and id for pressing said ends against the'opposite sides of said upper end, means for so moving said fingers comprising: a vertically extending lazytong linkage supporting said fingers at its lower ends, means for elongating said linkage for urging said lower ends and said fingers toward each other for so pressing said ends of said strip against said opposite sides, said linkage comprising a plurality of pairs of links with each pair being provided with a common pivot, means mounting said pivots in vertical alignment for relative movement relative to each other as said linkage is elongated and compressed, housing means for moving said linkage and said pivot mounting means along a generally vertical path of travel toward and away from said top, a top engaging member on said pivot mounting means for arresting downward movement of said mounting means when saidmember is in engagement with said top, and cam means carried by said housing means for engaging said linkage for so elongating the same upon continued downward movement of said housing means.

10. In a device for applying a flexible elongated strip over the top ofan article having a generally cylindrical vertically disposed upper end comprising: a housing,

means for moving said housing in a vertical plane toward said linkage including a plurality of pairs of links with each pair being provided with a common pivot slidably supported on said rod to permit relative movement of said pivots as said linkageis successively elongated and compressed, cam means carried by said housing and engageable with said linkage when said head is in engagement vwith said top for so elongating said linkage and pressing said fingers against said opposite sides with said strip interposed between said sides and said fingers.

11. In a device for applying a flexible elongated strip over the top of an article having a generally cylindrical vertically disposed upper end comprising: a housing, means for moving said housing in a vertical plane toward and away from said top, a vertically extending rod floatingly mounted in said housing, a strip transfer head secured to the lower end of said rod and adapted to receive a strip thereon for transfer to said top during said vertical movement of said housing, a vertically extending linkage carried by said housing and provided at its lower end with a pair of strip engaging fingers adapted to engage the opposite ends of said strip for pressing said ends against the opposite sides of said upper end of said article, said linkage including a plurality of pairs of links with each pair being provided with a common pivot slidably supported on said rod to permit relative movement of said pivots as said linkage is successively elongated and compressed, cam means carried by said housing and engageable with said'linkage when said head is in engagement with said top for so elongating said linkage and pressing said fingers against said opposite sides with said strip interposedbetween said sides and said fingers, and spring means between said rod and said linkage to permit said head to shift upwardly slightly when the force between said head and said top exceeds a predetermined amount. 7

12. In a device for applying a flexible elongated strip over the top of an article having a generally cylindrical vertically disposed upper end comprising: a housing,

a 1 1 vertical movement of said housing, a vertically extending linkage carried by said housing and provided at its lower end with a pair of strip engaging fingers adapted to en- I gage the opposite ends of said strip for pressing said ends against the opposite sides of said upper endof said article,

said linkage including a plurality of pairs of links with I each pair being provided with a common pivot slidably supported on said rod to permit relative movement of said pivots as said linkage is successively elongated and compressed, cam means carried by said housing and engageable with said linkage when said head is in engagement with said top for so elongating said linkage and pressing said fingers against said opposite sides with said strip interposed between said sides and said fingers, and spring means between said cam means and said housing to permit said cam to shift slightly when the force between said fingers and said article exceeds a predetermined amount.

13. In a device for applying a flexible elongated strip over the top of an article having a generally cylindrical, vertically disposed upper end and provided with a pair of fingers adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the opposite ends respectively of said strip and for pressing said ends against the opposite sides of said upper end, means for so moving said fingers comprising: a vertically extending lazy tong linkage supporting said fingers at its lower ends, means for elongating said link age for urging said lower ends and said fingers toward each other for so pressing said ends of said strip against said opposite sides, said linkage being fioatingly supported upper end, means for so moving said fingers comprising: a vertically extending lazy tong linkage supporting said fingers at its lower ends, means for elongating said linkage for urging said lower ends and said fingers toward each other for so pressing said ends of said strip against said opposite sides, and torsion spring means for urging said linkage in the same direction of rotation relative to the central axis of said linkage at all times.

15. In a device'for applying a flexible elongated strip over, the top of an article having a generally cylindrical,

vertically disposedupper end and provided with a pair'of fingers adapted to be moved into and out of engagement with the opposite ends respectively of said strip and for pressing said ends against'the opposite sides of said upper end, means for so moving said fingers comprising: a vertically extending lazy tong linkage supporting said fingers at its lowerends, means for elongating saidlinkage for urging said'lower ends and said fingers toward each other for so pressing said ends of said strip against said opposite sides, and a pair of extension springs connecting the opposite ends of said linkage for urging said fingers to a position spaced from said article at all times, and electrical leads received within saidspringsand connected to said fingers and adapted to be connected to heating References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Fincke Apr. 19, 1938 Mancuso Sept. 19, 1939 

1. IN A DEVICE FOR APPLYING A FLEXIBLE ELONGATED STRIP OVER THE TOP OF AN ARTICLE HAVING A GENERALLY CYLINDRICAL UPPER END, A MAGAZINE CONTAINING A STACK OF SUCH STRIPS, A STRIP TRANSFER HEAD POSITIONED OVER SAID TOP AND MOUNTED FOR RECIPROCAL VERTICAL MOVEMENT INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT THEREWITH, MEANS FOR MOVING SAID MAGAZINE INTO AND OUT OF REGISTRATION WITH SAID HEAD FOR ENGAGING SAID HEAD WITH THE END STRIP OF SAID STACK TO PERMIT TRANSFER OF SAID END STRIP TO SAID HEAD, SAID MAGAZINE BEING SUPPORTED FOR SWINGING ABOUT A HORIZONTAL AXIS AND PROVIDED WITH AN OPEN END THROUGH WHICH SAID END STRIP IS REMOVED FROM SAID MAGAZINE AND TRANSFERRED TO SAID HEAD. 